Ataxia: Diagnosis and Treatment

Ataxia is a neurological disorder that is usually caused by damage and the eventual dysfunction of those parts of the nervous system, which are responsible for coordinating movements. Cerebellar ataxia is a type of ataxia that affects brain's cerebellum part. The most evident symptoms of ataxia include neurological dysfunction patterns such as gait abnormality, speech changes, deterioration of fine motor skills, and abnormalities in eye movements. Some other symptoms of ataxia are difficulty in swallowing leading to choking or coughing, tremors, shaking, or trembling in parts of the body, nystagmus, problems in maintaining balance, walking difficulties, and vision and hearing problems. Although there is no cure for ataxia, certain treatments can help relieve symptoms and ensure an improved quality of life for the patients. A patient's functionality and progress can be evaluated using certain diagnostic tools including imaging tests, blood tests, lumbar puncture and genetic testing.